Electric block system for railways



No. 626,835. Patented June 13, I899.

' a. KNOWLES.

ELECTRIC BLOCK SYSTEM FOR RAILWAYS.

(Application fl1ed Dec. 26, 1895.)

2 Sheets8heet I.

No. 626,835. Patented lune l3, I899. G.'KNOWLES.

ELECTRIC BLOCK SYSTEM FOR RAILWA YS.

(Application filed Dec. 26, 1895.)

4H0 Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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UNITED STATES PATENT Gretna GEORGE KNOIVLES, OE MILWAUKEE, IVISCONSIN.

ELECTRIC BLOCK SYSTEM FOR RAILWAYS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 626,835, dated. June 13, 1899. Application filed December 26, 1895. Serial No. 573,264. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE KNOWLES, of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of \Visc-onsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in .Electric Block Systems for Railways and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

The main objects of my invention are to economize current in the operation of electric railways and to prevent collisions in the operation of either steam or electric railways.

It consists of certain novel features in the construction and arrangement of component parts of the apparatus, hereinafter particularly described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings like letters designate the same parts in both figures.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of apparatus embodying my invention, and Fig. 2 is a like view of a modification thereof.

Referring to Fig. l, A designates the trolley-conductor of an electric railway,composed of insulated sections of lengths corresponding with the lengths of the blocks into which the railway is divided. B is a main supply conductor or feeder which has branches 1) b at intervals corresponding with the divisions of the railway and trolley-conductor. G C, &c., are auxiliary conductors, each connected with pivoted arms cl d of switches or circuit-controlling devices D D, &c., located at or near the divisions between the sections of trolley-conductor. -Each of said switches comprises two contact-stops 01 01 which are connected, respectively, with a branch I) of the feeder and with a section of the trolley-conductor by a branch or conductor d Associated with each switch is a track or train instrument E E, 850., comprising a break-wheel e, a ratchet-wheel F, and a pawl f, pivoted to a reciprocating head G. The break-wheel c has a notched or indented rim or periphery engaging with a projection or roller of the adjacent switch-arm d and adapted to shift said switch-arm alternately from one to the other of the contacts d and d Each head G has a projection or frictionroller adapted to be engaged by a trip h on the trolley H or on any other convenient part of a motor and to be moved, with its pawl f, against the tension of a spring g sufficiently to turn the associated break-wheel c an interval corresponding with the distance between adjacent notches or depressions in its periphery, the spring g operating to return said head and pawl to their normal positions. The switch-arms d are held in engagement with the break-wheel c and are drawn normally toward the contact 01' by spring 61 Each auxiliary conductor 0 may be supplied with lamps I I and semaphore-arms J J or any other suitable audible or visible signals for indicating to the motormen or engineers on approaching cars or trains the condition of the associated block or section of railway.

In the application of the apparatus to electric railways upon which traffic is crowded and it is desirable to provide for more than one motor running upon a single section at a given time, each section of trolley-conductor is divided longitudinally or composed of two parts a a, insulated from each other, and a switch-arm K, controlled by an electromagnet L, is provided in connection with each of the switches D D, &c. The switch-arm K is connected by a conductor is with the contact d v of the associated switch and is held by a spring out of engagement with the contact d and away from the core of magnet L. The winding of said magnet is connected by a branch wire or conductor Z on one side with the ground or return and on the other with a part a of an insulated section of trolley-conductor, the other part a being connected by a branch 01 with the contact d of the associated switch.

Myimproved apparatus as hereinbefore described operates as follows: Assuming that a motor has passed from the left in the direction indicated by the arrow upon the middle section of trolley-conductor, the trip h has operated the instrument E and shifted the arm d of the associated switch from contact d into engagement with contact 61. Current was thus supplied to the section of trolleyconductor in advance from feeder B through branch b, contact (1, arm (1 of switch D, auxiliary conductor 0, lamps and signals I and h operates the instrument E, shifting the arm 01 of the associated switch D from the contact (1 into engagement with contact (1.

The auxiliary conductor C is now connected at both ends with and short-circuited through the feeder B, the greater part of the current passing through the feeder on account of the resistance of the lamps and signals in conductor C, and the section of trolley-conductor which the motor has left is deprived of current, both branch connections (1 (1 with part a of said section, being open at d (P. In passing the instrument E upon entering the intermediate block shown in Fig. 1 the motor in like manner cut off the supply of current through the auxiliary conductor C to the section behind, which it had just left, and inpassing instrument IE it shifted the arm of the associated switch D so as to supply current through the auxiliary conductor C to the section ahead. Suppose now that another motor running in the same direction enters the same block at the left. Its trip It will operate the break-Wheel E and shift arm d of switch D from contact d against contact d ,the arm (I of switch D at the opposite end of the block remaining as left by the preceding motor against contact (1. Current will now flow from feeder B through branch I), contact d, arm (Z of switch D, auxiliary conductor C, contact (1 of switch D, and branch (1 to part a of the insulated section of trolley-conductor A, which the motor has just passed upon. The lamps and signals I and J in said anxiliary conductor will thus be again lighted and displayed at danger. Nhen this second motor passes out of the block at the opposite end or at the right, it will shift the arm d of switch D to the right against contact d The arms of switches D and D at both ends of the block will now stand inengagement with contacts (Z and both the branches (1? (1 leading to the trolley-conductor of said block and the auxiliary conductor C, will be disconnected from the feeder B at d d, and thus deprived of current. The breakwheels being set so as to hold the switch-arms d d of each auxiliary conductor associated with a trolley-conductors section 011 which there is no motor against corresponding contacts, so as to out 01f the supply of current from said section, a motor passing into the corresponding block at either end will in the manner above explained operate one of the track instruments and associated switches, so as to supply current to said section through the as sociated auxiliary conductor C, and when it passes out of said block, whether at the same end it entered or at the opposite end, the current will be cut off from said section. Furthermore, if while a motor is in a given block another motor approaches within a certain tactspp.

distance it will operate to deprive bot-h motors of current. Thus for long-distance lines and high speed two motors are prevented from coming together and accidents are avoided. If, however, it is necessary to run motors close together at a lower rate of speedwhere traffic is crowded, the sections of trolley-conductor are divided into or composed of insulated parts and switch-arms K, and magnets L are provided, as hereinbefore explained. Under these conditions when a motor-passes into a block to the trolley-conductorsection of which it has supplied current, as above explained, it bridges or electrically connects the two parts a a, and thus current passes in the instance illustrated in Fig. 1 from part ct through branch land the windings of magnet L, thus energizing said magnet, attracting its armature, and shifting the switch-arm K against the tension of spring into engagement with contact d". Current will then pass from the feeder through the arm K, branch 70, and branch 61 to part a of the trolley-conductor section independently of the position of arm d or of the switch D. Consequently as long as a trolley is running on said section it will be supplied with current, and anynumber of motors may pass into the same block. When, however, the last motor clears said block, the switches at the ends thereof will be left in their normal position and the corresponding section of trolley-conductor will be deprived of current, so as to avoid waste by leakage. By omitting the trolley-conductor and connecting the branches (1 62 directly with the ground or return the apparatus will serve the purpose of a block signal system for steamrailways.

Referring to Fig. 2, in place of two switches D D &c., at or near the divisions between the blocks or sections and auxiliary conductors,such as C C,&c. ,connecting said switches in pairs, as shown in Fig. 1, I have shown single switches M M at the divisions between the blocks, each consisting of a pivoted arm m, connected by a branch conductor m with a section of trolley-conductor, and of a contact m, connected by branch I? with the main supply conductor or feeder B and a back-stop m In place of the track instrument (shown in Fig. 1) constructed and arranged to be directly actuated by a trip on a passing trolley or car I have shown similar instruments arranged to be actuated by e-lectromagnets momentarily energized by passing cars or trolleys. Each of these instruments comprises a break-wheel e, having a notched or indented rim or periphery adapted to shift the associated switch-arm m alternately into and out of engagement with its contact m, a ratchetwheel F, a pawl n, pivoted to an armaturelever N, carrying the armature of an electromagnet O, which has its windings connected on one side with the ground and on the other through branches 0 an d o with insulated con- A spring 77. tends to pull and hold the armature-lever N away from magnet 0.

The above-described modification of the apparatus operates as follows: Assuming that a car ispassing from right to left, as indicated by the arrow, when the trolley I-I passes the contact 1) current passes from the trolley-cond uctor through the trolley to said contact and thence through branch conductor and the windings of magnet O to the ground or return.

Said magnet is thus energized and, attracting its armature, moves the lever N to the left, turning the associated break-wheel an interval and shifting the switclrarm in into engagement with contact 172'. Current is then supplied from feeder B through branch I), the arm on of switch M, and branch m to the insulated trolley-conductor section upon which the trolley is about to pass. As the trolley passes the contact p at the opposite end of said section it in like manner connects the next trolley-conductor section in advance with the feeder. As it passes contact p the circuit is again closed through the windings of magnet 0, associated with switch M, by way of branch conductor 0. The associated break-wheel being thereby turned an interval shifts the arm m out of engagement with contact m against the back-stop m thus depriving the insulated trolley-conductor section which the trolley has just cleared of current.

In case of crowded traffic, where it is desirable to provide for a number of motors running on'each section at the same time, the trolleyfconductor sections are divided longitudinally into two parts insulated from each other and magnets L L are provided, being in this case so arranged that while a trolley "is on the associated section of the trolleyconductor the switch-arm m, through which current is supplied to said section, will be held in engagement with the contact m independently of the operation or'position of the associated break-wheel or track instrument.

In the application of either form of the apparatus shown to electric railways the trolleyconductor may be laid upon the ties between the track-rails and inclosed in a slotted casing or left exposed or one of the track-rails may be utilized for the purpose, the other rail serving as a return-conductor. My improvements are, however, equally applicable to overhead-trolley systems and in any case do not require underground conduits or costly construction.

I show no particular devices for operating the danger-signals, as any well-known or suitable forms of instruments for that purpose may be employed. Neither do I wish to be understood as limiting myself to any particular form or construction of switches or contacts, as any suitable form or construction for the purpose may be used. In short, various changes and modifications in the minor details of the apparatus may be made within the spirit and intended scope of my invention.

I claim- 1. In an electric block system for railways the combination with a main sn pply-conductor, of auxiliary conductors and circuit-con'- trolling devices consisting of switch-arms connected in pairs by an auxiliary conductor, two contacts associated with each switch-arm and connected one with the main conductor and the other with the ground or return, and instruments each arranged to be operated by cars passing successively in the same direction or in opposite directions to shift the switch-arm of the associated switch alternately from engagement with one contact into iary conductor, two contact-s connected onewith said su pply-conductor and the other with the ground or return, and an instrument arranged to be operated by cars passing successively in the same direction or in opposite directions to shift said switch-arm alternately from one contact tothe other, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In an electric block system for electric railways, the combination with a trolley-conductor composed of insulated sections, of a main feed-conductor and circuit-controlling devices located at or near the ends of the sections and each comprising a switch adapted to connect said feed-conductor and an associated section of trolley-conductor, and an instru ment arranged to be operated bycars passing successively in the same direction or in opposite directions to shift said switch alternately in opposite directions, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. In an electric block system for electric railways the combination of a trolley-conductor composed of insulated sections, a main feed-conductor, an auxiliary conductor, and circuit-controlling devices located at or near the ends of the blocks and each comprising a switch-arm connected with the auxiliary conductor, two contacts associated therewith, one connected with the main conductor and the other with a section of the trolley-conductor, and an instrument arranged to be operated by a passing trolley 01' car and to shift said switch-arm alternately from one contact to the other, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. In an electric block system for electric railways the combination of a trolley-conductor composed of insulated sections each divided longitudinally into twoparts which are insulated from each other, a main feed-conductor, switches located at or near the ends of the blocks in branches between the main feed-conductor and trolley-conductor, and arranged to be shifted bya passing trolley or car and to alternately close and open said branches, and magnets having their windings connected with parts of the trolley-conductor insulated from those with which the branches from the feeder are connected, said magnets being arranged to maintain electrical connection' between the main supply-conductor and corresponding sections of trolley-conductor as long as trolleys or cars are on such sections, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. 6. In an electric block system for electric railways the combination of a trolley-conductor composed of insulated sections, a main supply-conductor, switch-arms located at or near the ends of each block or section of trolley-conductor, an auxiliary conductor connectin g the switch-arms in pairs, two contacts associated with each switch-arm and conn ected one with the main conductor and the other with a sectionof the trolley-conductor, and break-wheels each arranged to be turned by passing trolleys or cars and to shift the associated switch-arm alternately from one contact to the other, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7. In an electric block system for electric railways the combination with a main supply-.

conductor, instruments arranged to be operated by passing cars to shift the switch-arms alternately in opposite directions, magnets having their windings in branch circuits connected with parts of the trolley-conductor sections and. with a return or ground, and switches controlled by said magnets to maintain electrical connection between the other parts of the trolley-conductor sections and the main supply-conductor as long as the insulated parts of corresponding sections are bridged or electrically connected by a trolley or car, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

8. In an electric block system for railways, a main supply-conductor having a branch in each station, an auxiliary conductor having a switch at each station, and a trolley-conductor composed of insulated sections, the switches cooperating alternately with the branches of said main supply-conductor and a section of trolley-conductor, whereby current is supplied to said section of trolley-conductor only when a motor is in the corresponding block, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I aifix my signature in presence of .two witnesses.

GEORGE KNOWLES. 

